“It was wonderful, Leith. Every part of it.”
I wrap her hand around mine and look at the diamond ring on her finger. “How does it look in the daylight to you?”
“Beautiful and perfect. I can’t believe you bought it four years ago and I never knew.”
“I was ready to marry you then.” I’m beyond ready now.
“I would have said yes.”
I squeeze her hand and chuckle. “I know.”
“Cocky much?”
“Very.”
“It’s an expensive ring. Why didn’t you return it after everything that happened?”
“It was already yours even if you didn’t know that it existed. It didn’t belong on another woman’s hand.”
I liked taking it out and looking at it from time to time. It was a painful yet comforting reminder of the life that Lorna and I almost had.
“You’re right. This is my ring, and it doesn’t belong on any other woman’s hand.”
I pull into my reserved parking space and turn off the engine. Lorna returning to the pub today feels a little like the queen is returning to her court. “Ready?”
“I never asked how many barmaids you currently have working for you.”
“Four.”
“Which ones are scheduled for today?”
“Nessa and Kyla. Gwyneth and Cora will work tomorrow.”
“Which ones flirt with you or try to get you into bed?”
“Lorna…”
“I’m not going to make a scene. But I am going to be very clear about what won’t be tolerated.”
Lorna is claiming what belongs to her. I like it. It’s sexy.
“Nessa is a good girl. She and Kenrick talk a lot. I think that something is happening between them, but he hasn’t admitted to anything.” More than one time I’ve caught them coming out of the storage room at the same time, both looking a bit mussed up.
“You know how Kyla is. She’s very friendly with the brothers, but she’s never propositioned me.”
She goes into the back alley with brothers. I’m not certain what she does with them while she’s there, or if they pay her for whatever she does, and I don’t want to know.
“Gwyneth is here to earn a living. That’s all she’s interested in.”
She was widowed two years ago. I thought highly of her husband, so I help her out with her bills when she’s strapped. She says that it isn’t fair to the other barmaids because they work just as hard as she does, but they don’t have small children at home to feed.
“Cora has expressed an interest in pursuing something more than a boss-employee relationship.”
“How has she expressed interest?”
“The first time was when she came into my office, shut the door, and began unfastening her shirt. Two buttons was as far as she got. I made her stop and I sent her back to work.”
“And the second incident was what?”
“About a month later, it was after hours and everyone had gone home. Or so I thought. She cornered me in the storage room and tried to get me to fuck her. I told her that I would fire her if she pulled that shite again. She must have believed me because there’s not been another incident.”
“And Greer? Does she still come around?”
“Unfortunately.” Greer was the last woman I fucked, and she wasn’t happy when I put a stop to our hookups.
“What does she do when she comes to the pub?”
“She always makes sure that I see her with other brothers. She thinks that she’s making me jealous, but that’s because she doesn’t see that I don’t give a fuck about her or what she does.”
“She’s going to have a harsh reality check when we announce our engagement. And the best part is that she’s not going to see it coming. I can’t wait.”
Lorna is bitter where Greer is concerned. And I can’t blame her. Greer is the one that I paraded most in front of Lorna. I hate myself for doing that. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself for treating Lorna that way.
“Greer isn’t the only one who won’t see this coming.”
Fellowship members are aware that Lorna and I grew up together and also that I employed her for several years, but none of them are aware of our romantic past. Only our closest friends know about that. We’re going to blow a lot of minds when they find out that we’re together.
“People aren’t going to see this coming, Leith. It’s going to be epic.”
“You’re epic.” I lean over and press a kiss to Lorna’s lips. “Ready to go in?”
“Definitely.”
We enter the building through the back entrance, hand in hand. We’re walking down the hallway and I can tell that Lorna is feeling something. Nervous? Anxious? Excited? I’m not sure where her head is at the moment. “What are you thinking?”
She takes a deep breath and exhales. “That it feels like I’ve come home.”
“That’s because you have.”
Her being here feels like old times, only better. Perfect.
“Do you want me to handle telling the barmaids about you and why you’re here?”
“No, I’ve got that under control.”
I press a kiss to Lorna’s lips and we part ways. She goes to the barmaids’ serving station, and I go behind the bar to see what my brother has to say about what he just saw happen between us.
Kenrick stares at me. “What the fuck was that?”
This is going to be fun. “You must be referring to the kiss I just gave my fiancée?”
“Your fiancée?”
“Aye. Lorna and I are engaged.”
“The fuck you say? Since when?”
“Last night.”
“I didn’t know that you were seeing each other.”
I leave off telling him that we weren’t. “Surprise.”
“Wow. My brother is getting married. When?”
“Next month.”
“Is she pregnant?”
I shrug. “Could be. We’ll see.”
“Congratulations.”
Kenrick doesn’t seem freaked out about this. “Thanks.”
“Does Mum know?”
“Not yet. We’re going by to tell her tomorrow.”
“She’ll be happy. She thinks the world of Lorna.”
I do too. Maybe the news about our marriage will be the kick in the arse that Kenrick needs. “You should tell Mum about Nessa.”
He stops wiping down the bar and looks at me. “What are you talking about?”
Oh, he wants to play that game? “Are you really going to deny that something is going on between you and that pretty wee redhead?”
Kenrick chuckles. “Well, fuck. Is it that obvious?”
“It is to the man who used to do the exact same thing with the woman he’s about to marry.”
He shakes his head. “Damn, I can’t believe that I didn’t know about you and Lorna.”
“Don’t feel bad. We were very good at keeping our relationship a secret.”
“Obviously.”
“What’s going on with you and Nessa?”
“We’ve been fucking around for a while.”
“Do you love her?”
Oh, he definitely does. His smile tells me everything I need to know.
“I believe I do.”
“Are you thinking about marrying her?”
“The thought has crossed my mind. A lot, actually.”
“You should do it. Don’t wait.”
“Marry her? Just like that?”
“I wish that someone would have given me that advice when I was your age. Maybe then I wouldn’t have lost so many years with the woman that I love.”
“We had a pregnancy scare a few weeks ago. It’s so funny. When she told me that she was late, all I could do was hope that she wasn’t pregnant. And then the test was negative and she got her period and all I could think about was how I wished that it had gone the other way.”
My baby brother is finally growing up. He’s becoming a real man.
/> “Does she want to marry you?”
“Aye.”
“I like Nessa. She’s a good girl, and I think she would make a fine wife for you.”
“A commitment like marriage is scary as fuck.”
“Marriage isn’t scary. Losing the woman you love? That’s terrifying.”
Kenrick looks over at the barmaids’ station. “I don’t like the brothers looking at her. And I want to choke the fuck out of them when they touch her. But I can’t say anything because we’re flying below the radar.”
“Been there, done that, and it sucks.”
“I’m doing it to save Nessa from being labeled.”
“Believe me, I get it.” More than you could possibly understand.
“Are you and Lorna planning to make some kind of announcement?”
“Clear your calendar. Sin and Bleu are having an engagement party for us at their house on Tuesday night.”
“That’s good. It’s best if the brothers hear the news in a sanctioned setting.”
A sanctioned setting? “What does that mean?”
“Our leaders are giving you and Lorna their blessing, and the brothers will have no choice but to respect that.”
“The brothers will have no choice but to respect our marriage regardless of the way we announce it.”
“I’m not saying it’s right, but a lot of the brothers think that her position here gives them the right to treat her the way they like. Having the event at our leader’s house will show everyone that they support your union and that they expect others to as well.”
Kenrick has a good point.
“Lorna wants to come back to work at Duncan’s.”
“I miss working with her. She ran a tight ship when she was here, but do you think it’s a wise decision to let your wife work in the pub? You can kind of be a hothead sometimes.”
No shite.
“I don’t think it’s wise at all. I know the brothers and how they see any woman who’s employed here. And that’s why I told her that she won’t work here after we’re married.”
“What did she say to that?”
“‘We’ll see.’ She believes she’ll change my mind but she’s wrong.”
“I don’t blame you for feeling that way. Although I do have to say that she looks like she should be managing a ritzy club instead of this pub in that outfit that she’s wearing.”
Black button-down blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt. Black tights. Black heels. Hair twisted into a tight bun. She’s pure sophistication with confidence oozing from every pore. She certainly doesn’t look like the woman who only a year ago was slinging drinks in this pub while wearing a short kilt and tight white button-down.
This woman looks like a wife and mother.
A sexy wife and mother.
“Your favorite customers just walked in.”
I turn and look at the front entrance. Neil Rutherford and Ross Underwood. “I think those two come in here with the sole goal of chapping my arse.”
And those fuckers are always successful.
“Yours isn’t the only arse that they chap. They fuck with Nessa every time they come in here. I’m just waiting for the day that they take it too far and I blow up on their arses.”
Kenrick looks in the direction of the barmaid station. He shakes his head from side to side slowly and mouths, “No.”
Wise move to instruct Nessa to not serve them except that leaves Lorna or Kyla at their mercy.
“I won’t let them fuck with Lorna.”
I leave the bar, heading straight for the barmaids’ station. “Hey, come here for a minute.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t serve Neil and Ross. Kyla can take them.”
Lorna’s head tilts. “You want me to give her another table while I take nothing?”
“You know how those fuckers are.”
“I do and that’s why I can’t let her take them on top of what she already has.”
“Lorna, this isn’t a request. I mean it. Don’t serve them.”
“I’m not doing that to her, Leith.”
Here we go with the hardhead shite.
“If they fuck with you, there’s going to be a brawl.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a big girl and I know how to take care of myself. I learned a long time ago how to handle them.”
“It’s me who can’t handle them fucking with you.”
Lorna reaches up and strokes her thumb over my cheek. “They’re assholes and always will be but they’re your brothers. They’re going to keep coming into this drinking hole whether you like it or not. And it’s their right to do so until they do something to deem being told that they can’t anymore.”
“Woman, you are so fucking stubborn. Are you always going to defy me?”
“Probably, so it might be a good idea for you to start getting used to it.”
“Fuck, Lorna.”
“You love how stubborn I am and you know it.”
“I don’t and I’m going to show you how much I don’t when we’re alone.”
“Are you going to spank me?” she whispers.
“Chances are very good.”
“Promise?”
“I might do it right now.”
“Can’t. I have customers to tend.”
Bloody hell.
She turns and walks toward Neil and Ross’s table, and I know in my gut that something bad is going to happen. It isn’t possible for this to go well with those two.
Kenrick’s laughing when I return behind the bar. “She may be your fiancée, but I can see that some things haven’t changed.”
“Still stubborn as a damn mule.”
“She’s not afraid of them. I’ll give her that.”
“She always has had balls bigger than either of them.” That’s my Lorna.
A villain’s grin—that’s what I think of when I see Neil look up at Lorna. That smile alone is enough to make me want to go over the bar after him.
“He’d better not touch her.”
“Please don’t do anything stupid. This place looked like a disaster site the last time that you brawled with them.”
“My next move is entirely dependent upon what Neil decides to do.”
Lorna turns and comes to the bar. “Two Dark Island Reserves.”
I place a glass beneath the spout and pull the dispensing lever. “What did he say to you?”
“‘I’ll have a Dark Island Reserve.’ And he also said ‘What are the lunch specials for today?’”
“That’s all?”
“Yes. Is that so hard to believe?”
“Aye, with him it is.”
Kenrick places his hands on the bar and lifts his body, leaning forward to kiss the side of Lorna’s face. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Kenny.”
“I’ve always thought of you as a big sister. I guess now you really will be one.”
“Such a sweet thing to say.”
“You’ve always been family anyway. This just makes it official.”
“Damn right it does.” I push two ales across the bar to Lorna. “Your drinks, wife-to-be.”
“Thank you very much, husband-to-be.”
I watch Lorna take the ales to Neil and Ross, and I’m sitting on ready if those bastards step out of line with her. But they don’t. She leaves their drinks and walks away from their table untouched and without dispute. And I can’t believe my fucking eyes.
“They didn’t pull any shite with her. What the fuck’s up with that?” It’s impossible for me to believe that they wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to fuck with her after she was gone for so long.
“I don’t know, bro. Maybe it’s the outfit? She looks professional.”
“You seriously think an outfit would keep them from acting like assholes to her?”
“I’m not sure but if that’s it, I need to get something like it for Nessa.”
“Hey, titty police!” Neil calls out.
Well fuck. I rushed
to judgment.
“Shite,” Kenrick says.
“What, Neil?”
“I’d like to personally thank you for bringing back my favorite barmaid. Although I’d prefer her wearing her old outfit.”
“You don’t get a preference where my fiancée is concerned.”
He laughs. “Your fiancée?”
“Aye. We’re getting married next month.”
“I hadn’t heard.”
“You’ll be receiving an invitation to our engagement announcement party.”
“Then congratulations are in order.” He stands and holds up his glass of ale. “Here’s to Leith Duncan—a brother who has managed to convince The Fellowship’s biggest dick tease to be his wife. I must admit that I’m a wee bit jealous. I always thought that I would eventually get between her legs.” He sucks air between his teeth. “But who knows? She’s not your wife yet. There’s still time.”
“Ohh fuck. Here we go,” Kenrick says.
One might say that I leap over the bar. Another could argue that it’s more like a lunge, but no one can debate what my next move is.
My clenched hand slamming into Neil’s face feels good. It’s so fucking satisfying to feel the give behind my fist and hear the sound of breaking his nose, the same bone that I broke not so long ago.
Fuck, yeah. There’s nothing else in the world like it. But it’s not enough. I punch his face again, and I’m less satisfied this time since I don’t immediately disfigure his jaw.
“Leith!”
I hear Lorna’s voice but I can’t compute the words that follow my name. There’s a disconnection between my ears and brain. And it’s called vengeance.
No one talks shite about her. Ever.
My arm burns and it’s difficult to maintain the hold around Neil’s throat. I’m losing traction because it’s wet and slick beneath my grip.
Red.
Blood.
Lots of it.
Is that coming from me? From Neil? What the fuck happened?
“Stop, Leith. Let go. You’re bleeding.”
I don’t want to stop. I want to keep choking Neil until he’s dead.
“Look at me, Leith.” Lorna’s hands grip my face, and she forces me to look at her. “Eyes on me. Stop. You’re bleeding a lot. You have to let me put pressure on it.”
I look down and see the blood rhythmically gushing from a wide gash on the inside of my inner arm near my wrist.
Complete Sin Box Set Page 123